Arsenal thumped FC Basel 4-1 and secured top spot in Group A following Ludogorets’ surprise 2-2 draw at French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners went into their game in Switzerland expecting to finish runners-up after drawing 2-2 with PSG at the Emirates last time out, but Hungarian champions Ludogorets produced an excellent display to hold Unai Emery’s side, meaning that Arsene Wenger’s men top a Champions League group for the first time since 2011.
A hat-trick from Lucas Perez and a second-half strike from Alex Iwobi sealed a comprehensive victory in Basel, as Arsenal progress having won four of their six games, and drawing the other two.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will also be in Monday’s last 16 draw, but their home woes continue as they only managed a 1-1 draw against bottom side Celtic.
Patrick Roberts, on loan from the Manchester club, gave Brendan Rodgers’ side the lead after just four minutes, but Kelechi Iheanacho responded four minutes later as a much-changed City line-up secured a point.
However, it now means that Guardiola’s men have won just one of their last six games at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions, although that was their impressive 3-1 win over Barcelona last month.
City progress as group runners-up having won two and drawn three of their six matches, and they will be hoping that Monday’s draw is kind to them as they look for a sustained European campaign.
Unsurprisingly, much of the talk on Twitter was about Arsenal’s ascent to top spot, and many Gunners fans were delighted to see their side finish top, although some still joked that they’ll face a tricky last 16 tie…
Top of the group against all odds. Thank you Ludogorets. #AFC #UCL
— Eric The Don (@Gooner_Eric) December 6, 2016
What a night! Top of the group – very well done lads! #UTA #AFC #forward
— AMTgooner (@AMTgooner) December 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/IsaiahGreeze/status/806256388217442304
So we FINALLY finish top of our group! This gives us a HUGE chance to progress!!!
*Draws Bayern Munich and goes out anyway.#AFC
— JB (@TheBowMonster) December 6, 2016
Some praised a fine performance away at Basel, which has notoriously been a tough place for British sides to go…
Quality performance from the team, great poaching from @LP10oficial #AFC #COYG
— Voltzoen (@HighburyKings) December 6, 2016
Really great performance from #AFC tonight. Pleasing to also top the group although will probably now draw Bayern now. #UCL
— Dan Young (@dannypyoung) December 6, 2016
Overall, a terrific performance from 1 to 11 tonight & deserved group winners. 18 goals in 6 games and unbeaten. #afc
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) December 6, 2016
While others were hugely impressed by Lucas Perez’s display in Switzerland, and some even took a sly dig at Tottenham for their disastrous Champions League campaign…
Love it that Lucas Perez now has as many UCL goals as Sp*rs this season #afc @arseblog @gunnerblog
— alex popplewell (@popple00) December 6, 2016
With Perez We've got a Really Good Finisher. #ManOfTheMatch Performance there. #UCL #AFC #TopOfTheGroup
— OBIdient UnLagosian (@DavidtheGooner) December 6, 2016
#AFC @LP10oficial scored same amount of goals as spurs, unbelievable
— Bsa (@abdulbarde1) December 6, 2016
City could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Celtic on Tuesday, and there were mixed responses to the result and performance…
Yes it was a nothing game. But….In reality, another poor performance and result at home for Pep #MCFC
— ⚽️ (@J61578) December 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/mattgilbert1210/status/806252124724228096
https://twitter.com/SiBoy74/status/806252249634787331
Decent performance tonight without creating too much. Gundogan was sensational, genuine world class footballer. #MCFC
— 21 (@DavidSilvasWand) December 6, 2016
While Celtic were rightly praised for an excellent display at the Etihad…
https://twitter.com/cunningham_news/status/806278130042372096
Forrest, Armstrong, Rogic and GMS (when he came on) were all excellent. Better finishing and they'd have won that. #celtic #mcfc
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) December 6, 2016
Another positive performance tonight. Brendan is building something special at Paradise. #Celtic
— Jason Farrell (@Jay_farrell86) December 6, 2016
Played v well tonight. Unlucky not to win it. A Credible performance in a difficult group. Hopefully can build on this next year. #Celtic
— Vinny O'Kane (@vinster85) December 6, 2016